Dispenser and display device for spherical objects



July 31, 1956 c. A. cowsERT DISPENSER AND DISPLAY DEVICE FOR SPHEIRICAL OBJECT Filed April 15, 1954 4 7 4 m 3 9.. 3 9L 7 A w 1 3 MW 1 7d 1 1|. LT 2 U, M W I aw. 6 1% H 7 Y J L 1 1 g M 1 A. new K 4, my 4 w 2 2 0L R mm W A 5 w W C ATTORNEY United States Patent DISPENSER AND DISPLAY DEVICE FOR SPHERICAL OBJECTS Charles A. Cowsert, Miamisburg, Ohio, assignor to Buckeye Bait Corporation, Miamisburg, Ohio, :1 corporation of Ohio Application April 15, 1954, Serial No. 423,309

3 Claims. (Cl. 221-132 The present invention relates to a dispenser and display device for spherical objects and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a device of the character set forth which consists of a circular base having mounted centrally thereon a vertically extending transparent cylinder atop which .has a removably mounted cap or cover. A plurality :of vertically extending rods are mounted in the base within the cylindrical member and are interconnected at their upper ends by a horizontally extending circular plate which normally lies immediately below the aforesaid cap or cover. A trough is formed in the upper side of the base eccentrically to the base itself and the aforementioned cylinder. The cylinder has a plurality of dispensing openings of different sizes circumferentially arranged in its lower end portion and the rods are so positioned with respect to these openings to allow for the storage therein of stacks of differently sized spherical objects such as the fishing floats shown in the drawing. The trough is so arranged with respect to these openings that its greatest width occurs adjacent the largest of the openings and also in such manner that the progressively smaller widths occur adjacent the progressively smaller openings thus permitting the display and dispensing of a maximum number of differently sized objects in a minimum of space.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a novel display and dispensing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character set forth, of a novel trough forming a part of the invention.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the character set forth, of a novel arrangement of guide rods forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 3, and

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a device of the character set forth comprising a circular base formed of wood or like material and having concentrically formed therein a slot 11 wherein is embedded the lower end portion of a vertically extending transparent cylinder 12 which may be formed of glass, transparent plastic material or the like. A cover 13, preferably formed of the same material as the base 10, rests upon the upper end of the cylinder 12, as indicated at 14, and is provided with a dependent reduced 2,756,901 Patented July 31, 1956 2 v portion 15 which snugly fits within the upper portion of the cylinder .12.

A recess 16 is centrally formed in the underside of the base 10 and an elongated bolt 17 has its lower end positioned within such recess and extends central-1y through the base 10 and upwardly through a centrally disposed opening 18 in the cover 13. The bolt 17 is threaded at each of its ends and is provided with a nut 19 at the lower end thereof which nut-19 lies normally wholly within the recess 16 and has interposed between it and the upper end of the recess 16 a washer 20. A washer 21 surrounds the rod 17 .and bears against the upper face of the base 10 and a nut 22 is threaded upon the bolt-17 and bears against the upper side of the washer 21, it being apparent that the nuts 19 and 22 and their respective washers act to maintain the bolt 17 in a locked position with respect to the base 10. The upper end of the bolt 17 has thread- .ably mounted thereon a ball 23 which is decorative in shape and preferably formed in the shape of one of the devices to be displayed in and dispensed by the container forming the present invention.

A plurality of doors 24 is formed in the lower end portion of the cylinder 12 and such doors 24 are of different. sizes. A plurality of. vertical rods 25 isembedded in the upper face of the base 10 and such rods 25 extend vertically to a spider 26 normally lying immediately below the cover 13, the rods being afiixed at their upper ends to the spider 26 and the bolt 17 extending through such spider 26.

The rods 25 are arranged in pairs and each pair of such rods is positioned inwardly of one of the openings 24 in such manner that a line extending through the same forms a chord which is bisected by a radius line extending from the center of the base 10 through the center of the opening 24 with which the rods are associated. It will also be apparent that each pair of rods is at a greater or lesser distance from its associated opening depending upon whether the opening is relatively large or relatively small.

In operation, it will be apparent that, in order to remove the cover 13, it is only necessary to first unscrew the decorative member 23 from the bolt 17 after which the cover may be removed from the bolt. Thereupon the device may be loaded with spherical objects such as the fishing floats indicated at 27 in such manner that the larger floats may be placed one atop another between the rods 25 adjacent the largest of the doors 24. It will thus be seen that the inner wall of the cylinder 12 and the associated rods 25 will act to maintain a vertical stack of such objects 27 while the lowermost of the objects 27 will be allowed to escape outwardly from the window 24 but to be confined by a trough 28 formed in the upper face of the base 10 exteriorly of the cylinder 12. It will also be noted that the trough 28 is formed with its external periphery, indicated at 29, eccentrically with respect to the center of the base 10, thus providing a larger cross sectional area for the larger of the objects 27 and a progressively smaller cross sectional area for the reception therein of the progressively smaller objects 27 dispensed through the progressively smaller doors 24 in the cylinder 12.

It will be apparent that the trough 28, being of eccentric character as aforesaid, not only affords an eifective saving in display space but also provides an amusing object to customers and other persons who may view the same.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a circular base, a vertically extending transparent hollow cylindrical body mounted on said base, a cover removably mounted upon said body, said base having a trough in the upper face thereof exterior of said body, said body having a plurality of doors of diiferent sizes in the lower portion thereof communicating with said trough, and means in said body for maintainingin vertically stacked relation adjacent each of said doors pluralities of spherical objects, said trough having an external periphery which is eccentric to the periphery of said body and arranged with its width proportional to the size of the adjacent doors.

2. A device of the character described comprising a circular base, a vertically extending transparent hollow cylindrical body mounted on said base, a cover removably mounted upon said body, said base having a trough in the upper face thereof exterior of said body having a plurality of doors of difierent sizes in the lower portion thereof communicating with said trough, and means in said body for maintaining in vertically stacked relation adjacent each of said doors pluralities of spherical objects, said means comprising a pair of vertically extending guide tubes affixed to said base inwardly of each of said doors, and said trough having an external periphery which is eccentric to the periphery of said body and arranged with its width proportional to the size of the adjacent doors.

3. A device of the character described comprising a circular base, a vertically extending transparent hollow cylindrical body mounted on said base, a cover removably mounted upon said body, said base having a trough in the upper face thereof exterior of said body, said body having a plurality of doors of diflerent sizes in the lower portion thereof communicating with said trough, and means in said body for maintaining in vertically stacked relation adjacent each of said doors pluralities of spherical objects, said means comprising a pair of vertically extending guide tubes afixed to said base inwardly of each of said doors, said pairs of tubes being at a greater distance from the relatively larger doors than from the relatively smaller doors, said trough having an external periphery which is eccentric to the periphery of said body and arranged with its width proportional to the size of the adjacent doors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,722 Evans May 5, 1891 1,426,844 Wood Aug. 22, 1922 1,690,394 Belt Nov. 6, 1928 1,913,231 Carlstedt June 6, 1933 1,999,021 Marsh Apr. 23, 1935 2,221,704 Farley Nov. 12, 1940 

